The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-07-10
Rem,nl.eeaee, .f B.eeh.r.


Whether any one will ever think it worth
while to offer to the world Q discriminating, an
exhaustive and judlcially impartial estimate
OF Henry Ward Beecher may well be doubted.
As master of the spoken word as sovereign
controller OF the emotions, he has had perhaps
no equal within the limits of his own profess
sion in this country and In the memory Of men
now living He could not only think upon his
legs, but his thought flowed from him with
ease and lucidity, and never was the express
sion Of his feelings more spontaneous. more
fervid, and more infectious than upon q plat
form before multitude Of auditors. To say.
however. that the possessor OF such powers
was In his day famous man Is not to say he
was great man. for greatness must
leave some vouchers behind 1t which
posterity will countersign. What has Beecher
left behind him precious to another generation
that knew him not, and that never kindled or
shivered under the impact Of his voice and Of
his eyer He has written nothing Of high
quality: he has organized no great and durable
religious movement: he has left no broad and
deep imprint on the political and social record
Of his time He was primarily and mainly
pulpit orator. and although while he lived he
might and did possess the influence insep-
arabic from the exercise Of gifts like his, the
fame OF such man. like that OF the actor. ia
writ In water. His place will be with Whit
field. who to US Is only the shadow Of a name.
not with Wesley. who although no speaker.
was an organizer and creator and with whose
personality and experiences millions are to-
day familiar.
But though We do not imagine that the fu-
ture historian Of the third quarter OF the nine
teenth century will assign to Mr. Beecher's
figure place Of eminence in the foreground
NJ Mai hv ~ that
recollections OF the preacher and the man will
not be sought for and treasured by contempt
raries and compatriots. He made innumerable
friends; to the last he retained many; and in
their eyes, at least, he will abide potent.
commanding. beloved individuality. What
over we may personally think Of his character
and conduct at a certain crisis Of his life. or
whatever limitations we might set to the depth
and circuit of his intellect. we cannot, without
visual obliquity, refuse to recognize tho
strength OF his hold on the affections and respect
Of thousands, or dispute the value OF the SER
vices which he rendered at certain epochs not
only to the people among whom he lived and
worked but to the commonwealth at large.
When such q man has lately gone from us,
what is craved and priced both by those who
were close to him and the far wider circle that
followed his career with lively interest Is remi-
niscence not estimate. the generous. the loyal.
and. II you please. the gushing tribute Of sin
cere admrers and devoted friends, not the
chilling criticism which insists on probing tho
worth Of the inadequate memorials OF the
mans achievement which survive In print.
1t is service Of this kind which Mr.. JOSEPH
HowARD, Jr has essayed to do for Mr.. Beecher
and for the many thousands who esteemed
him and regret him. Althoughto his book the
publishers Hubbard Bros, PHILADELPHIA have
given tho title Of LiJsor Henry Ward Beechsr.
the author himself does not profess to offer Q
complete biography. but only gimpses Of such
features Of the subjects life and personality as
In the judgment OF an old and trusted friend
were truly salient. Keeping In view the
modest limitations OF the writer's purpose, 1t
seems to us that every friend OF Mr.. Beecher's
should be keenly sensible of tho tact and 10y
Atty with which 1t has been carried out. Many
things We learn from these informal unpre-
tentions memoranda, which could only have
been cleaned from the cherished recolleetions
OF old and intimate acquaintance, yet 80 as
siduously has the author effaced himself that
at first the subject seems to be telling his own
story. through happy selections from his own
sermons. speeches, published writings. and
private letters. No phase OF Mr.. BeeoheT's ac-
complainant or character, and no impor-
tant epoch OF his life is left unfocus-
sed in self-provided Illumination Of this
kind. Where coniunctive or interpretative
comment is needed we do not look for 1t In
vain but 1t Is always the comment Of faith
full. reverential. and Jealous friend. The null
titude OF those who saw in Mr.. Beecher at once
good and great man win be confirmed in
their Impressions by Mr.. Towards narrative.
while they who have formed less favorable
opinions may be moved by sections Of this book
to a suspension. II not reversal. Of Judgment
rrfl BSok NStsA. .-
"Ths Van Gsldsr Papers and Other skstOhsG" edited